Trousers



(No Model.) -f 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1y L. S. SHAUER.

. TROUSERS'. No. 555,587. Patented Mar. 3, v1896.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-sheen 2.

L. s. SHAUBR.

Y TROUSERS.

No. 555,587. Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS S. SIIAUER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TROUSERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,587, dated March 3, 1896.

Application filed March 1l, 1895. Serial No. 541,286. (No model.) l

To @ZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, LOUIS S. SHAUER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trousers, and is adapted to be applied to and used on trousers of almost any description, yet is moreespecially designed to be employed on that class of such garments which is worn bybase-ball players, bicyclists, and other athletes, as well as those worn by laborers; and it consists in a pair of trousers or like garment having at each side thereof a cut-out portion with an elastic device secured therein, and a belt extending around half of the waistline with its ends attached to adjacent edges of the elastics and a buckle `inserted in its center.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a pair of trousers, showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a face View of the upper portion of one side of the garment, showing one form of my self-conforming device in position. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a like portion of the trousers, illustrating a modiieation in the conforming device employed. Fig. 4 is a face or view in elevation of a portion of the upper part of the trousers, showing still another modification in the form and application of the conforming device;

and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of trousers of the knee pattern or style, showing the lower portion of the legs provided with a self-conforming device.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A represents a pair of trousers, which is made of any suitable material and of the ordinary or any preferred style, but when designed to be used by athletes or bicyclists of the knee pattern or style. The upper portion of each side of the trousers is provided with a cut-out portion or recess B, across which are securedin any desired manner self-conforming devices C, which may consist of spiral springs C', having at their ends hooks c to engage links or rings c', secured in the plates d, which plates are provided'with holes d' for the reception of threads, by means of which they are attached to the material of which the trousers are made near the edges of the re- Fig. 2 of the drawings.

out portion B is preferably covered by means of suitable waterproof materialD, which may be sewed or otherwise attached to the trousers near the edges of the recesses B, yet in ness to permit of the stretching of the elastic material to a limited extent in the said recess.

The waterproof material D is preferably applied so as to be on each side of the elastic device, so that the same shall be protected from perspiration from the body, as Well as from external moisture. The upper part of the waterproof material may be covered and protected by means of a piece D', which is preferably of the same kind of material of which the trousers are made, and which envelops the upper edge of the garment, as is clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4 of the drawings, Which piece D', being at the waist-line, takes the strain of the belt (described below) when drawn too tightly an d prevents it from tearing the elastic.

The trousers A are usually provided near their top with circumferential pockets e, into which are iitted the pieces of the belt E, which may be made of any suitable inelastic material, and is provided with a buckle e' of any desired kind for uniting the free ends of the pieces thereof together. The ends of the pieces E of the belt are secured within the pockets e, near the front edges of the recess or cut-out portion B, so that the garment may be tightened on the waist to any desired degree.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a modication in the construction of the elastic devices used in the recesses B, and also in the material of which the same are composed, which consists in employing a number of elastic cloth pieces F, which may have their ends vprovided with metal clasps f, and are secured to the edges of the recess or cut-out portion B of the trousers by means of buckles cess or enlargement B, as is clearly shown in The elastic device within the recess or cutsuch a manner as to allow of sufficient full- IOO G, which buckles are attached in any desired manner to the edges of the recesses in the garment. Instead of using the buckles G at each of the ends of the elastic straps F, I may use them at one end only and secure the other end of the strap by sewing the same to the cloth of the trousers, as is shown at I-I in Fig. 3. It is obvious that I may use waterproof material to cover these elastic straps, and may attach the same to the trousers, as above described, but inasmuch as the straps may be readily replaced should they become impaired the Waterproof material is not deemed essential.

In Fig. et of the drawings is illustrated another modiiication in the form of the elastic devices employed in my invention, and in the manner of its application, which I may sometimes use, and which consists of a piece of woven wire or wire-cloth I, which is secured at its edges to the cloth of the garment near the edges of the recesses therein. In using this modification I also prefer to use the waterproof material D and the piece D', which are both applied in the same manner as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and above set forth. In all cases, however, the Waterproof material D prevents undue lateral stretching of the elastic, and the waist-piece D', if employed, adds greatly to the strength of this material for resisting such lateral strain.

By using trousers provided with an elastic device in the extremity of their legs,as shown in Fig. 5, it is obvious that the same will pre- Vent the trousers from slipping up or climbing on the leg of the wearer, as is frequently the case, and especially among bicyclists. Of course, the devices illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings may also be applied to the leg of the trousers, but I prefer to use the straps illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings at such a point.

By the use of either of my elastic devices,

it is obvious that they maybe quickly applied to the trousers, and, should they become impaired, very easily renewed or replaced; and it is also apparent that the employment of the waterproof material over the elastic devices Will render them much more durable.

It is apparent that the recesses or cut-out portions B may be made of any suitable shape and dimensions, but I prefer to make them of the same Width at the top and bottom, as shown in the drawings. This form of the recess may also be observed in the legs of the trousers. e

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l As a new article of manufacture,the hereindescribed pair of trousers having at each side of the waist-line a eut-out, elastic devices secured in said outputs, and an inelastic strap extending half-Way around the Waistline and consisting of two sections connected at their inner ends by adjusting means and each connected at its outer end to one edge of one of said elastic devices, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described pair of trousers having a cutout at each side of its Waist-line, elastic devices secured in said cut-outs, a circumferential pocket at one side of each cutout, and an inelastic strap extending half-way around the waist and consisting of two sections having adjusting means for connecting their inner meeting'ends and each section having its outer end passing through one of said pockets and connected to one edge of one ofthe elastic devices, as and for the purpose set forth.

LOUIS S. SIIAUER. Vvlitnesses:

CHAs. C. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN. 

